Newsgroups: comp.lang.apl
Path: watmath!watserv2.uwaterloo.ca!torn!spool.mu.edu!decwrl!csus.edu!sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu!emclean
From: emclean@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Emmett McLean)
Subject: Re: VMS version of J?  any pointers?
Message-ID: <1993Apr1.235525.16709@csus.edu>
Sender: news@csus.edu
Organization: San Francisco State University
References: <1993Apr1.162522.3552@engage.pko.dec.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1993 23:55:25 GMT
Lines: 57

I gather that you've ftp'd over to watserv1.waterloo.edu 
and noticed that there is a J executable in 

languages/apl/j/exec/vax

As I run J on a VAX ULTRIX (UNIX) and this executable runs
nicely on my machine, I do not know if it also runs under VM.

Let me tell you what I think I know -:)

I understand that gcc also runs under VM. If you have
gcc on your system you will probably not have much
difficulty compiling J and getting it to run nicely.
If you do not have gcc, then you'll probably find
find an alarming series of warning
messages when you compile (you may get one or two
anyway). If this is the case it is possible that while
running J on obsure occastions you'll a core dump when
when you should only an error message.  So I've emailed 
you a shar file recently posted by Raul Rockwell which 
will allow you to compare how J runs on your system 
versus how it runs on his hp.

To compile you must set the variable SYS in js.h to set 
for your system.  Set SYS_DOUBLE to one unless when you 
enter a numeric vector you get a core dump. If this occurs 
set it to zero and remake.

If you're keen on C there may come a time at which
you will be interested in hacking the source for
a perfect implementation on your system. At this time
you may find Iverson Software's publication 
"An Implemenation of J" very useful.

Finally, if you really get stuck you might email the
watserv1.waterloo archivist Dr. Lee Dickey at

ljdickey@math.uwaterloo.ca

he has the broadest experience of installing J over
a variety of machines.

Once you get J running then you can concentrate on 
quickly getting up to speed.  The best place for
ideas is Iverson Software's publications, you
should at least purchase the "Dictionary of J" or
you'll be forever lost.  It also has a tutorial.

Post your questions.

Go to the comp.lang.apl archive at watserv1.waterloo.edu
in languages/apl/comp.lang.apl and fgrep on Subject.

Good luck

Emmett

